Thunderstorms prompt 400 emergency calls to the Fire Brigade and heavy rain disrupts Tube lines

Thunderstorm captured by Adam Schwarz and posted on social media 

‘Biblical’ storm keeps thousands of Londoners awake with spectacular lightning show

Last night’s spectacular thunderstorms have caused a fair amount of havoc in London. Thousands of people across the capital were woken up by loud thunder and an intense succession of lightning strikes which went on for more than two hours.

Adam Schwarz was one of those who captured some of it on his phone camera and shared the video on social media:

It’s 3.45am in London and it’s been thunderstorming for almost two straight hours.

One of the biggest and longest storms I can remember in my almost 35 years in this city. pic.twitter.com/3YQKiAVu57

— Adam Schwarz (@AdamJSchwarz) June 23, 2026

‘It’s 3.45am in London and it’s been thunderstorming for almost two straight hours. One of the biggest storms I can remember in my almost 35 years in this city’, he posted.

The Met Office said nearly 30,000 lightning strikes were recorded in the UK over the 24 hour period to 9am on Tuesday.

London Fire Brigade take 400 calls overnight with weather-related emergencies

As the storm abated you could hear sirens as the emergency services responded to calls.

London Fire Brigade took around 400 calls between midnight on 23 June and 10.40am this morning. Firefighters across the city have been responding to numerous flooding calls, mostly affecting properties.

They have also attended ‘at least two house fires suspected to have been triggered by lightning strikes’.

Some areas were also hit by flash flooding, including roads. The fire brigade warned drivers not to drive through floodwater and to take extra care.

‘A foot of moving water at just 6mph is enough to float a car’, they said. ‘Always try and find an alternative route and make sure to check your journey before travelling’.

Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne said:

“It has been a very busy night for our Control Officers, firefighters and officers. Shortly after 04.00 hrs, due to a large number of calls received by the Brigade, we implemented our High-Volume Call procedure which means flooding calls where there is a risk to life are prioritised and crews then attend other calls as non-emergencies when they can”.

Met Office’s map at 04.50, showing amount of rainfall 

Looking at the Met Office’s maps, in the middle of the torrential downpour at 04.50 parts of London were being hit by more than 32mm per hour of rainfall – the top level on the chart.

The lightning map shows the frequency of the lightning strikes.

Met Office’s map at 04.50, showing frequency of lightning strikes 

Tube lines affected by flooding

The District Line was suspended due to ‘signal system failure’ and Elizabeth Line services to and from Heathrow have also been disrupted. At time of writing (1.30pm) Transport for London is saying there are ‘severe delays’ on the District Line, the Circle Line, the Metropolitan Line and ‘minor delays’ on the Central Line and Mildmay Line.

They say there is a ‘good service’ on all other lines.

The Elizabeth line has now reopened, but issues are still expected until late afternoon, with the Heathrow Express also running a reduced service.

South Western Railway train

Railways expected to be affected by heat

The thunderstorms seemed to come as a surprise, but transport operators are prepared for the heat wave predicted for later this week. Extreme temperatures are expected on Wednesday and Thursday.

The Met Office has issued a rare Red Extreme Heat Warning and say temperatures could hit 40 degrees. South Western Railways have warned people not to travel on those two days unless the absolutely have to.

READ ALSO: South Western Railway advises customers to travel only if essential on Wednesday and Thursday, as extreme heatwave hits UK